Hey readers! 🌾
This week brings a wave of diagnostic breakthroughs that could reshape how we identify and manage celiac disease, alongside important research on comorbidities and practical challenges. From blood tests that work while you're gluten-free to insights on bone health and mental wellbeing, these stories highlight how science is finally catching up to the real-world needs of our community.
This Week's Highlights 🔬
Diagnostic Innovation
Breaking Through: A New Blood Test Could Change Celiac Diagnosis Forever — Australian researchers report that the WBAIL-2 blood test detects gluten-specific T-cell activity even in people who've been gluten-free for months or years, achieving 90% accuracy overall and 95% in those with HLA-DQ2.5. – Gluten Intolerance Group
This is genuinely exciting because it addresses one of the most frustrating aspects of celiac diagnosis: the catch-22 of needing to eat gluten to get tested. The test measures IL-2 release when gluten peptides are added to a blood sample, essentially catching your immune system in the act without requiring you to make yourself sick first. Even better, IL-2 levels correlated with symptom severity, suggesting the test could help monitor disease activity and evaluate future therapies.
Mackay gastroenterologist develops world-first diagnostic blood test for coeliac disease — Dr. Robert Anderson's antigen-specific T-cell test published in the Journal of Gastroenterology shows high accuracy for diagnosing celiac disease without gastroscopy or gluten challenge, with immune responses actually stronger in people already gluten-free. – Mackay Hospital and Health Service
"You can just draw blood and you can measure the immune response in a blood sample. There's no real need to eat gluten and it actually turns out that the immune response in the blood is, if anything, stronger in people who are on a gluten-free diet."
Plasma Proteins Invariant to Diet in Celiac Disease — UK Biobank proteomic analysis identified carboxypeptidase A2 and integrin subunit beta 7 as potential diet-invariant markers elevated in 132 celiac patients on gluten-free diets, offering commercially available assays that could diagnose without gluten challenges. – PubMed
Targeted Genomics Launches CeliacDx Consumer-Initiated Testing Service — The new service combines FDA-cleared GlutenID genetic risk testing, celiac antibody panels, and expert pathology review, with negative genetic results indicating near-zero lifetime risk and potentially eliminating unnecessary testing. – Targeted Genomics
Comorbidities and Associated Conditions
Celiac Disease Three Times More Common in Children with Lupus, Study Reveals — In 300 children with lupus, 3% had biopsy-confirmed celiac disease (three times the general population rate), and half showed no GI symptoms, underscoring the need for routine screening in pediatric lupus patients. – Medha Baranwal
The silent presentation in half of these cases is particularly striking. It reinforces that celiac disease isn't always about obvious digestive symptoms, especially when it coexists with other autoimmune conditions. The shared immune dysregulation between lupus and celiac disease suggests common genetic or immunologic pathways that warrant further investigation.
Other comorbidity findings:
Asthma, Atopic Dermatitis, and Allergic Rhinitis in Pediatric Celiac Disease — Iranian case-control study found significantly higher rates of asthma (12.1% vs 5.8%) and allergic rhinitis (29.5% vs 14.5%) in 173 children with celiac disease
Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder in Celiac Disease — Review indicates 14-57% of celiac patients may exhibit ARFID symptoms driven by ongoing GI issues, gluten anxiety, and social challenges
Bone Health and Growth
World Osteoporosis Day: Celiac Disease and Bone Health — Osteoporosis affects 26-72% of people at celiac diagnosis, even without digestive symptoms, requiring DEXA scans and targeted nutrition (calcium, vitamin D, vitamin K, magnesium) alongside gluten-free diet for optimal recovery. – Celiac Disease Foundation
"Celiac disease is often a silent, but significant contributor to bone loss across the lifespan."
Changes in the anthropometric measurements in children and adolescents with coeliac disease — Two-year follow-up of 439 pediatric patients showed significant catch-up growth in weight, height, and BMI after starting gluten-free diet, with younger age at diagnosis predicting greater recovery. – PubMed
Practical Challenges and Solutions
The cost of being gluten-free: a hedonic pricing analysis — Swiss study found gluten-free products cost 79% more on average, adding CHF 421 annually per patient with no disability or health insurance support, highlighting a significant policy gap. – PubMed
Potential Transfer of Toxic Gluten from Biodegradable Tableware — Research found wheat-derived biodegradable dishes can transfer gluten to foods (especially liquids) above the 20 mg/kg threshold, with heat and prolonged contact increasing migration, revealing a critical regulatory gap requiring mandatory allergen labeling. – PubMed
This biodegradable tableware finding is genuinely concerning because it represents a hidden source of gluten exposure that most people wouldn't think to check. The fact that current regulations don't require allergen labeling on food-contact materials is a significant oversight that needs immediate attention.
Research and Advocacy Updates
Science Meets Advocacy: A New Era for Celiac Disease Progress — The Celiac Disease Foundation and Society for the Study of Celiac Disease partnered to integrate cutting-edge science into programs and policies, with over $1.5 million invested in research grants and a new Supporter Membership for patients and advocates. – Celiac Disease Foundation
Celiac Disease Foundation Represents North America at AOECS Conference — Four research posters presented in Brussels included iCureCeliac® database analysis of 15,000+ records, UC Davis wheat gene-editing research eliminating celiac epitopes while preserving baking quality, and a national survey on college student challenges. – Celiac Disease Foundation
Understanding Non-Celiac Gluten Sensitivity
Gluten sensitivity linked to gut-brain interaction, not gluten itself — University of Melbourne study published in The Lancet suggests symptoms in non-celiac gluten sensitivity stem from FODMAPs, other wheat components, or psychological factors rather than gluten directly, calling for redefined diagnostic criteria. – University of Melbourne
Sensitive to Gluten but No Celiac? You're Not Alone — Meta-analysis of 25 studies (50,000 adults) found 10.3% globally self-report non-celiac gluten/wheat sensitivity, significantly associated with anxiety, depression, and IBS, though researchers emphasize it's an umbrella term covering diverse mechanisms. – Gizmodo
Future of Wheat
Can wheat be safer without sacrificing taste? — UC Davis researchers are developing wheat with reduced immunogenic proteins while maintaining or enhancing baking quality, with first varieties expected in 2-3 years using mutagenesis and gene-editing to preserve gluten structure. – Food Navigator USA
"We've tested the varieties in full baking trials, and the breads are very good. Zero difference in sensory perception – texture, crumbing, mouthfeel – it's identical. In fact, the gluten is stronger in some cases."
Additional Research Notes
Diagnostic guidelines: Rethinking Coeliac Disease Diagnosis reflects on 2025 ESsCD updated guidelines for adults, building on 2019 guidance and emerging blood-based T-cell diagnostics
Treatment trials: Teriflunomide Does Not Affect Gluten-Specific T-Cell Activity — Phase 2a trial found no significant differences in T-cell activity, concluding teriflunomide ineffective as non-dietary treatment
Monitoring tools: Comparative Effectiveness of Urine vs. Stool Gluten Immunogenic Peptides Testing — Meta-analysis of six studies showed stool GIP testing achieved 85.1% sensitivity and 92.5% specificity versus 55.4% and 73.0% for urine testing
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